Romans 12:10, 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Respect/Honor each other, meaning to honor someone more than yourself. Today it is not an easy task. Children nowadays think to respect their parents is below themselves. The first lesson to this begins at each and every home. Wife who respects her husband, Husband who accepts and respects the individuality of wives, children who see their parents respect and honor their grandparents naturally develop love and respect for their elders. People who criticize or talk ill of their siblings in front of their children often forget that if their children do the same they cannot stop them since lesson is learnt at home. If aged parents are not able to serve a purpose in their children’s life, the children consider them as burden. They lose respect and children have change in behavior towards them. Many parents who have children are now being pushed into isolation and loneliness in Old Age Homes. What should we expect from the generation that sees this? What we give is what we get.
Genesis 1:27, 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them male and female he created them. But today man is like God in form only. Whereas the behavior and nature is that of the Devil himself. God is love itself. Today, the godly nature like love, compassion, empathy, mercy, patience and tolerance are all missing. We have forgotten to observe basic manners on the phone also, let alone when face to face with each other. After making a call to someone most often without asking to excuse ourselves we ignore the person we were talking, or we do not pay attention to the person talking to.
Man’s standard of living has increased manifold in all aspects. And with that the values of life and morals have started to depreciate. Don;t we hurt our own family members with caustic replies and bitter words. 1 John 3:10, 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Love and respect are the two sides of the same coin. Those who love each other would naturally also respect and honor the individuality and personality of the other person. We are all aware of a brother in the Bible who deceived his own elder brother with some broth in exchange of rights of the elder son. Then goes on to cheat the father also by getting dressed as the eldest one and receive blessings that were rightfully his. Jacob. His partner in crime was his own mother, how pitiful. When parents fail to establish a balance between siblings, it creates a rift among them and develops jealousy and vengeance. The best example of this is Joseph. Jacob faced the result of his wicked act. He had to abandon everything and go away from his family to protect himself. He fell in love with the younger sister but was deceived and married off to the elder sister. We very often forget that the Lord is righteous. Joseph was sold away by his brothers for only 20 silver coins. Years later the elder brothers came before Joseph begging for grains to survive. They were sent by their own father. Joseph did not bear a grudge and forgave them and helped them whole heartedly.
Dear children of God, be it our own siblings or people around us when we love and respect others it only increases our honor and not lower it. In our own homes, be it younger or older siblings we should always be mindful and respect their individuality which in turn would reflect in society as well. Before we condemn or insult anyone we should always think and place ourselves in their shoes to be able to evaluate and experience the pain it causes. Humility was the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. We should reflect upon ourselves when we say that we are transformed in Him. Is our nature in tune with His??? Are we really transformed in Him??? Think. Let us pray to the Lord and the Mother to bless us with the virtue of humility.
AMEN
Jehovah Roi 